Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have released five long-tailed monkeys back into the wild in outlying Can Gio District, the municipal Forest Protection Department confirmed on Monday.
The Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station coordinated with rangers in Can Gio District and the management board of the Can Gio protection forest to release the macaques.
The monkey, which is the Macaca fascicularis, belongs to Group IIB in the list of rare and endangered forest species as per Vietnamese law.
In July last year, the Can Gio forest protection unit fined N.V.C., a person from Tay Ninh Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, VND17.5 million ($711) for catching the five long-tailed monkeys weighing 1.4-4.2 kilograms each at the Can Gio protection forest.
Authorities also confiscated the person's tools, including four monkey trap cages made of iron mesh, a pair of iron pincers, and 10 string bags, together with the five long-tailed monkeys.
The Can Gio forest department unit later collaborated with Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station for the monkeys' well-being before release.
A local ranger told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the five apes were in good health at the time of being released.
They have adapted well to the natural environment.
(Tuoitre [1])